Potter commissioners discuss inmate care

Posted: Tuesday, January 25, 2000

JIM McBRIDEGlobe-News Courts Writer

Potter County commissioners again aired concerns about inmate health-care costs and jail overcrowding.

During Monday's meeting, commissioners discussed health-care costs and how the county will recoup some of its costs for inmate care. Officials estimated the county might be owed as much as $400,000 in reimbursements for inmate care it paid for.

Commissioner Strick Watkins questioned why the county continues to pay some bills when it has not been reimbursed for others.

"This is not the first time this has been brought up," Watkins told fellow commissioners.

County Judge Arthur Ware said the county should continue to work with officials from Northwest Texas Hospital to resolve the issue of inmate health-care costs.

Commissioner John Stradley said the county should ensure it continues to receive pharmaceutical services for inmates, but he said officials should work to recoup inmate costs.

Commissioner Manny Perez also questioned why the county needs to spend so much money on inmates.

"We don't have to cater to them," he said.

Assistant County Attorney Dave Kemp said he is working with Northwest Texas Hospital officials to determine how much money each side is entitled to.

Kemp said reimbursement estimates are very tentative because Northwest and the county might need to be reimbursed for various costs.

"There are amounts on both sides," Kemp said.

Kemp said the hospital is expected to pay health-care costs for indigent inmates and the county pays for inmates that are not deemed indigent.

Commissioners tentatively agreed Monday to have Ware, Kemp and the county auditor review inmate health-care costs and report to the court at its next meeting.

Commissioners also revisited the issue of jail overcrowding. Ware reported the county's jail population dropped. The judge said the county's inmate population is about 540. The county jail is designed to hold about 570 inmates, but prisoners are supposed to be segregated to keep violent and nonviolent offenders apart.

The Texas Commission on Jail Standards has raised concerns about jail overcrowding in Potter County. The county plans to renovate a mothballed 96-bed unit, but commissioners have not yet budgeted money for the project.

The court also appointed Watkins and Perez to a committee that will review proposals for a construction manager. The construction manager is expected to oversee work on the proposed fire station and the jail maintenance building, which recently was damaged by a fire.